Combination ignition switch lock



March 10, 1942. N MANGIN, 2,275,781

COMBINATION IGNITION SWITCH LOCK Filed July 17, 1941 INVENTOR MwlzolasMargjnl. /V79,

ATTORN EY Patented Mar. It), 1942 UN i STATES orricE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in looks and more particularly to a combination lock for the ignition switch of an automobile.

One object of this invention is to provide a combination ignition switch lock of the above nature which will be simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, easy to install and manipulate, compact, ornamental in appearance, and very efiicient and durable in use.

With these and other objects in view, there has been illustrated on the accompanying drawing one form in which the invention may be conveniently embodied in practice.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 represents a front view of the combination ignition switch lock embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a rear view of the same.

Figure 3 is a top view of the same.

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the same taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a sectional View taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figures 6 and 7 are plan views of the two plates located within the interior of the combination lock.

Figure 8 is a plan view of the circular separating ring located between the plates shown in Figures 6 and 7.

Referring now to the drawing in which like reference numerals denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral I indicates a square base or panel of insulating ma terial upon which the combination lock and circuit control switch are mounted.

The switch comprises a movable jaw II pivoted at the point I2 to a stationary jaw I3 which is secured to the panel I0 by means of a screw I 4, said stationary jaw I3 having a binding screw I for connection to the bared end of a line conductor I E.

The movable jaw H is provided with a curved contact I! which is adapted to be moved toward the panel I0 away from a similar curved contact I8 of the stationary jaw I3 by means of a button I9 connected to a rod 20 having a cross pin 2| at its inner end, and located above the movable jaw I I so that when the button I9 is pulled forwardly against the tension of the coiled spring 22, located between the jaws II and I 3, the contacts I! and I8 will be separated to permit the movement of an inclined contact pin 23 from the full line position to the dotted n.

line position, shown in Figure 2.

The contact pin 23 is frictionally carried within a short upstanding block 24 provided in the end of an insulating lever 25 of U-shaped construction, pivoted on a pin 26 passing through the panel I0, said pin 26 having an operating knob 21 rigidly secured thereto so that when the switch jaw contact I1 is manually held in open position by the button I9 by one hand of the operator, the contact pin 23 may be swung into engagement with the contacts I1 and I8 .by turning the knob 27 with the other hand of the operator. The knob I9 may then be released, permitting the movable jaw II to be swung upwardly by the action of the coiled spring 22 into contact with the cross pin 2|.

The contact pin 23 is provided at its inner end with a rectangular binding post consisting of a pair of upstanding parallel ribs 28 and 29 (see Figure 2) between which is mounted a binding screw 30 for engaging the bared end of the other line conductor 3| in order to complete the circuit through the automobile ignition switch when the switch is closed, as shown in the dotted line position 32, indicated in Figure 2.

Provision is also made of a combination lock which serves to prevent, the raising of the contact pin 23 into engagement with the contacts I? and I8 except when the operator desires to use the car, The combination lock comprises a central cylindrical shaft 33 having a rotary control knob 34 provided with a pointer 35 which is adapted to be moved in a circular path adjacent an alphabetical scale 36. The shaft 33 is provided with a pair of plates 3! and 38 mounted thereon, the plate 3'! having a circular center aperture 37a for frictionally and slidably engaging upon said shaft 33. The other plate 38 is provided with a square aperture 38a for non-rotatively fitting over a squared section 381) formed on said shaft 33.

The two plates 31 and 38 are separated by an open circular spacing ring 43 held rigidly in position by a lug 43a integral with and depending from a U-shaped strap bracket 43b, and seated in a rectangular slot 530. The upper plate 37 is pressed against said ring 43 and the lower plate 38 by means of a coiled spring 39, the upper end of which engages a collar 33a on the U-shaped cover strap 43b, the latter having outturned base legs 4| and 42 secured as by screws Ma and 42a to said panel Ill. The plates 3! and 38 are also provided with upstanding pins 44 and 45 which are located in circular alignment with each other. The plates 31 and 38 are respectively provided with radial edge slots 46 and 4! which are adapted to be brought into alignment with a squared lug 48 formed integral with the lever 25, by manipulation of the knob 34.

Operation In operation, when it is desired to close the switch, the combination lock knob 34 may first be twisted clockwise to cause the pin 45 of the plate 38 to engage the pin 44 and move the plate 3! until the slot 46 reaches the bottom position shown in Figure 2, in alignment with the lug 48 of the lever 25. The knob 34 will then be twisted in a counter-clockwise direction, causing the slot 41 of the plate 38 to move into registry w1th the slot 46-the plate 31 remaining stationary during this movement of the plate 38 by reason of its sliding engagement with the shaft 33. It will be understood that the amount of said clockwise and counter-clockwise twisting movements will be dependent upon the predetermined combination of the lock, such combination in this instance, consisting of two letters. The insulating lever 25 will then be manually twisted by means of the knob 2! to bring the contact pin 23 between the contacts I! and I8, which will be held open by pulling upon the knob 19, forwardly. When the knob I9 is released, the switch will be in closed position, and the car ignition key will then be effective to turn on the ignition in the usual manner.

While there has been disclosed in this specification one form in which the invention may be embodied, it is to be understood that this form is shown for the purpose of illustration only, and that the invention is not to be limited to the specific disclosure, but may be modified and. embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit. In short, the invention includes all the modifications and embodiments coming within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new and for which it is desired to secure Letters Patent is:

1. In a combination lock for ignition switches, a base, a switch having a stationary jaw mounted on said base, a movable jaw pivoted to said stationary jaw, both of said jaws having curved contact members, an insulation lever mounted on said base and carrying a metallic contact pin for engaging between said contact members, the path of said pin being in alignment with said movable jaw contact, means for swinging said movable jaw to open position comprising a rod connected to said movable jaw and an operating button connected thereto, manually operated means connected to said insulation lever for swinging the contact pin carried thereby between the contacts of said jaws when said movable jaw is in open position, means for normally obstructing the movement of said lever, and a combination lock having means to remove said obstruction to permit said lever to be manually swung into switch-closing position.

2. In an ignition switch look, a switch comprising a stationary contact member and a springpressed movable contact member pivoted thereto, a pull button connected to said movable contact member, an insulation lever carrying a metallic contact pin movable into engagement with the contacts of said switch, a twistable knob connected to said lever, said lever carrying a side extension, a pair of rotatable plates having slots normally out of alignment with said extension to obstruct the movement of said lever into switch closing position, and means for twisting said plates to bring said slots into alignment with said extension to permit manual twisting of said knob and swinging of said lever into switch-closing position.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 in which said plates are mounted upon a central shaft having an operating knob on the end thereof, and in which one of said plates is rigidly connected to said shaft, said plates having interengaging pins projecting therefrom whereby the slots of said plates may be brought into alignment with said extension by manually turning said knob first in a clockwise and then a counterclockwise direction.

4. In an ignition switch lock, a switch having stationary and movable jaws pivoted together, means operated by one hand of the user for moving said movable jaw to open position, a lever carrying a movable contact operated by the other hand of the user to complete the circuit through said switch, and a combination lock for preventing movement of said lever until it is desired to close said switch.

5. The invention as defined in claim 4 in which said combination lock comprises a manually rotatable shaft and a circular plate secured to said shaft having an edge slot, said lever having a side extension normally obstructed by the periphery of said plate to prevent movement of said lever, but which is capable of movement into said slot when it is in alignment therewith to permit movement of said lever to switch-closing position.

6. In an ignition switch lock, a switch comprising a stationary member and a spring-pressed movable contact member pivoted thereto, a manually swingable pivoted lever having a metallic contact for engaging said stationary and movable contacts, means for connecting said stationary contact and said metallic contact with current supply conductors, said lever carrying a side extension, a pair of spaced rotatable plates having slots normally out of alignment with said extension whereby the periphery of said plates will engage said extension and obstruct the movement of said lever into switch-closing position, a spacing ring for separating said plates, and means to successively swing said plates in different directions so that the slots thereof will be alined with said lever extension to permit it to be manually swung into switch-closing position when said movable contact is in open position.

7. The invention as defined in claim 2 in which said plates are mounted upon a central shaft having an operating knob on the end thereof, and in which one of said plates is rigidly connected to said shaft and the other plate is frictionally rotatable on said shaft, said plates having interengaging pins projecting therefrom whereby the slots of said plates may be brought into alignment with said extension by manually turning said knob first in a clockwise and then a counterclockwise direction.

8. In an ignition switch look, a switch comprising a stationary contact member and a spring-pressed movable contact member pivoted thereto, means to pull said movable contact to open position, a pivoted lever having a metallic contact for engaging said stationary and movable contacts, said lever carrying a side extension, a pair of spaced rotatable plates having slots normally out of alignment with said extension whereby the periphery of said plates will engage said extension and obstruct the movement of said lever into switch-closing position, a spacing ring for separating said plates, and means to successively swing said plates in different directions so that the slots thereof will be aligned with said lever extension to permit it to be swung into switch-closing position when said movable contact is in open position.

NICHOLAS MANGINI. 

